1967 Map of Big Mountain Dam

About this map

Big Mountain dominates this portion of the high desert, rising above a complex network of seasonal drainages and traditional grazing lands. This 1967 field-checked survey documents a landscape defined by the Navajo-Hopi Joint Use Area, a designation reflecting the complex administrative and tribal history of the region. Significant water resources, vital for life in this arid environment, are clearly marked at Big Mountain Spring and the Big Mountain Dam. The drainage patterns of Dinnebito Wash and Oraibi Wash cut through the terrain, flanked by descriptively named features like Many Sheep Valley and White Hair Valley. The map's detail provides a look at the unimproved roads and topographical landmarks, such as Salt Point and Tsin Yatoh, used by inhabitants to navigate the plateau long before modern infrastructure reached the area.